AFL finals 2021 crystal ball: Experts predict premier, Brownlow medalist and more
Who will take home the flag? How much damage can the Bombers do in September? See our expert’s predictions and look back at what we got wrong in the pre-season crystal ball.
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Who would hold up the cup on Grand Final day?
Can the Bombers shake up the finals? Does Marcus Bontempelli have the Brownlow sewn up? Which player will emerge to stamp their name on September?
Scroll down to see all our expert predictions for premier, Brownlow, Norm Smith and more — plus a look back at what we got right and wrong in the pre-season crystal ball.
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MICK MALTHOUSE
PREMIER: GEELONG
The Cats are mature enough and have matchwinners on every line including a three-headed monster forward. Mitch Duncan’s return will add more value to the midfield.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Joel Selwood
Mr September: Max Gawn
SPRING SURPRISE
Essendon will cause severe damage until the preliminary finals. With an ounce of luck it could go all the way.
Brownlow Medal: Max Gawn
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Collingwood and West Coast out of final eight.
What I missed on in pre-season crystal ball: Melbourne and Sydney out of final eight.
MICK McGUANE
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
A fit and healthy list going into September action is a big advantage. Their best defenders in May, Lever, Salem, plus midfielders in Oliver, Petracca and Gawn and forwards in Brown, McDonald, Fritsch, Pickett and Spargo are all in good form and must believe they can achieve what no other Melbourne team has done since 1964.
Runner-up: Geelong
Norm Smith Medal: Clayton Oliver. Made for Grand Final day. Competitive and has a great temperament to keep his emotions in check.
Mr September: Clayton Oliver was born for this month of footy.
SPRING SURPRISE
Trent Rivers, at 20 years of age and with only 31 games experience, can elevate his reputation with a strong finals campaign.
Brownlow Medal: A tie between Marcus Bontempelli and Clayton Oliver.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Clearly got it wrong leaving Melbourne out of my top eight.
JON RALPH
PREMIER: PORT ADELAIDE
Brisbane couldn’t nail the home-ground advantage last year but if the Power get it right they get two home finals and don’t have to leave their beds for weeks. The old stagers in Robbie Gray and Travis Boak finally get that elusive premiership.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Aliir Aliir
Mr September: Lance Franklin
SPRING SURPRISE
Karl Amon.
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Gillon McLachlan cementing his legacy with Tasmanian timeline for the 19th team. Might be right by March next year....
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Richmond as minor premier. Only 10 spots out....
MICHAEL WARNER
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
Big Max to lift up the cup. No long-suffering fan base deserves it more. If only it was at the ’G.
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Norm Smith Medal: Christian Petracca
Mr September: Clayton Oliver
SPRING SURPRISE
Ben Brown.
Brownlow Medal: Ollie Wines
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Port to finish second.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Collingwood in the eight.
REBECCA WILLIAMS
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
Winners across the ground and everything seems to be falling into place at the right time. The emotional favourite, this one is long overdue.
Runner-up: Geelong
Norm Smith Medal: Clayton Oliver
Mr September: Clayton Oliver and Ollie Wines
SPRING SURPRISE
Getting through the finals campaign without any more Covid-inflicted dramas.
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Port Adelaide finishing top-two.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Overrating Richmond and underrating the Demons.
SIMEON THOMAS-WILSON
PREMIER: PORT ADELAIDE
It’s all coming together for the Power and other sides are getting hit with injuries and looking a bit shaky.
Runner-up: Geelong
Norm Smith Medal: Travis Boak
Mr September: Ollie Wines
SPRING SURPRISE
Sydney
Brownlow Medal: Jack Steele
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: North Melbourne winning the wooden spoon.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Patrick Cripps for the Brownlow and Matt Rowell for the Rising Star ... ouch.
CHRIS CAVANAGH
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
Defence wins premierships and Melbourne has the best backline in the competition, especially with Tom Stewart missing in action for Geelong now. A good team-first attitude will also help propel the Demons all the way.
Runner-up: Port Adelaide
Norm Smith Medal: Max Gawn
Mr September: Ollie Wines
SPRING SURPRISE
Kysaiah Pickett
Brownlow Medal: Ollie Wines
What I got right from pre-season crystal ball: Melbourne playing finals.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Thought Collingwood would play finals.
MARC McGOWAN
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
Defence wins flags and no team conceded fewer points in the home-and-away season. Steven May and Jake Lever are the AFL’s best backline combo, the Demons have a strong midfield packed with matchwinners and several scoring options in attack.
Runner-up: Geelong
Norm Smith Medal: Christian Petracca
Mr September: Clayton Oliver
SPRING SURPRISE
Nakia Cockatoo
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
NICK SMART
PREMIER: GEELONG
Had the Cats before the start of the season and I’m sticking with them now, despite a few late-season hiccups. The loss of Tom Stewart is big, but the Cats to salute — just — in their fourth flag since 2007.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Cam Guthrie
Mr September: Christian Petracca
SPRING SURPRISE
Max Holmes
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: North Melbourne to finish last, and predicting 2021 would be Nathan Buckley’s final year as Collingwood commit to a new era after sliding out of contention.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Jeremy Cameron to win the Coleman and the Eagles and Tigers to finish in the top five.
SAM LANDSBERGER
PREMIER: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Stefan Martin to mimic Clark Keating (2002) and Brad Ottens’ (2009) September comebacks and revitalise the AFL’s best but battling midfield, which is still blessed with the magic handball power that proved unstoppable in 2016.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
Mr September: Jake Lever
SPRING SURPRISE
Covid protocols prove no match for the might of Buddy Franklin as fans attempt to keep one of football’s great traditions alive by charging on to the field to celebrate the Sydney superstar’s 1000th goal. He needs eight more majors.
Brownlow Medal: Clayton Oliver
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Geelong, Brisbane in the top four.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Richmond to win the premiership.
JAY CLARK
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
Melbourne will complete the fairytale. Defence wins finals and they can dominate the game out of the middle.
Runner-up: Geelong. Has done so much right but Tom Stewart’s injury was a huge blow.
Norm Smith Medal: Clayton Oliver
Mr September: Steven May
SPRING SURPRISE
Kysaiah Pickett
Brownlow Medal: Ollie Wines
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Alastair Clarkson will leave Hawthorn.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Richmond to win the flag.
SCOTT GULLAN
PREMIER: WESTERN BULLDOGS
Clearly like to do it the hard way. The midfield has taken a couple of weeks to reconnect with Treloar and Dunkley back. Beveridge is a genius and will find a way to spark them again.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
Mr September: Aaron Naughton
SPRING SURPRISE
Laitham Vandermeer
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Four of the top five correct with Port Adelaide and Geelong on the money in second and third.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: No Melbourne in the top eight and way overrating Collingwood (fifth).
GLENN McFARLANE
PREMIER: MELBOURNE
If your team isn’t in the finals, how could you not barrack for the Demons and Max Gawn? Melbourne is perfectly positioned and three wins away from ending the curse of Norm Smith by winning its first flag since 1964.
Runner-up: Geelong
Norm Smith Medal: Clayton Oliver
Mr September: Christian Petracca
SPRING SURPRISE
Kozzie Pickett takes the finals by storm.
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Kangaroos to win the wooden spoon and Bont to be right in Brownlow contention.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: Whoops ... Richmond, West Coast, Collingwood and St Kilda to play finals.
CHRIS HONNERY
PREMIER: BRISBANE LIONS
They’re a more experienced squad compared to last year’s playoffs and have learnt their lessons on what it takes to win during the finals.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Jarryd Lyons
Mr September: Charlie Cameron
SPRING SURPRISE
Dayne Zorko
Brownlow Medal: Ollie Wines
MATT TURNER
PREMIER: BRISBANE LIONS
Because that is what I predicted pre-season and I will stick with it. The Lions have the stars and evenness to win it.
Runner-up: Melbourne
Norm Smith Medal: Hugh McCluggage
Mr September: Dayne Zorko
SPRING SURPRISE
Ben Brown to kick five-plus goals in one of the finals.
Brownlow Medal: Marcus Bontempelli
What I got right in pre-season crystal ball: Not a lot, although I was lukewarm on the Bulldogs due to a lack of backline height and durability concerns on ruck recruit Stef Martin.
What I missed in pre-season crystal ball: West Coast, Richmond, St Kilda and Collingwood making the eight, and Melbourne parting ways with coach Simon Goodwin mid-season. Eek.
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